In
May
of last year it was announced that LucasArts began working on a new
Indiana Jones video game to be released in 2007. What we know so far is
that the new game will be an original story - not based on Indy IV -
and that it will be made with the technology of the next-generation
consoles. But two new articles about LucasArts appeared online this
week and both shed some more light on the new Indy game project!

The first is a story by The New York Times about LucasArts' leaders -
Peter Hirschmann and Jim Ward - and how they are going to bring
LucasArts back to the absolute top 5 list of video game developers. An
interesting article if you're a fan of the legendary game company. And
there's one piece that is especially interesting for the Indiana Jones
fans:

Mr. Hirschmann later demonstrated a
test game, shouting and jumping each time a storm trooper tumbled
onscreen, the character barely catching his fingers on the pixel ledge.
And he gleefully explained how researchers had tracked down images of
San Francisco buildings from 1915 for the future Indiana Jones game.

Will we get to see a young Indiana
Jones visiting San Francisco in 1915? Very interesting! Especially when
you know that 1915 is one of the few years in Indiana
Jones' timeline that is completely empty of any events!

The second is an article
by IGN in which LucasArts and NaturalMotion use the new Indiana
Jones game to show how they define "next-generation". The article is
not about the game graphics but about the innovative way all characters
in the game will physically behave to their environments, friends and
foes during combat. Here follow 2 excepts:

But with its upcoming Indiana Jones
title, LucasArts may be onto something. Utilizing a run-time animation
technology called euphoria, the game is poised to push the limits of
what was previously possible. The company that developed the
technology, NaturalMotion, has been working for years to hone euphoria
to accurately replicate real-world physics such as strength, weight,
and momentum with in-game character models. Whereas before, all
animations had to be pre-programmed, euphoria allows for reactions and
behaviors to occur in real-time -- allowing models to react
realistically to whatever situation might arise...

LucasArts mentioned groups of
several enemies would be able to work together to overcome obstacles
and more effectively attack you, leading to unique battles every time.
They said they were hoping players would want to reload areas over and
over again solely to see the different ways they could take out foes
and watch them work together. In terms of specific examples, it was
said enemies could pass weapons between each other and help each other
up and over obstacles.

Note: the images and video fragments
shown in this article are not from the new Indiana Jones
game but from NaturalMotion's
site, to give us readers a sense of what they're talking about. And
what they are talking about sounds like something extremely exciting!

A big thanks to AJ and Nelson for the
article links!

LucasArts uses
Euphoria for new Indy video game

Friday April 28
2006, 4:35pm EST

LucasArts
has released a Press Release to announce that they will use the
previously mentioned Euphoria behavioral-simulation engine from
NaturalMotion Ltd. for their next Indiana Jones video game to be
released in 2007.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Thursday, April
27, 2006 – LucasArts announced today that Indiana Jones’ first
expedition on Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from
Microsoft and PlayStation®3 will feature the revolutionary euphoria
behavioral-simulation engine from NaturalMotion Ltd., creators of the
award-winning Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) technology. For the first
time ever, euphoria enables interactive characters – from Indiana Jones
himself to the foes he pulverizes – to move, act and even think like
actual human beings without the limitations of traditional animation.
Characters move and adapt realistically to their given situations on
the fly, resulting in a series of experiences and payoffs that will
never be the same twice. As one of only two publishers with early
access to the technology, LucasArts is well advanced in integrating
euphoria into Indiana Jones’ 2007 next-generation adventure.

Imagine a swaying rope bridge. With
euphoria in action, characters visibly attempt to balance themselves,
their feet stumbling, their arms flailing, and their hands reaching for
security as the unpredictable movements of the bridge threaten to send
them plummeting to their doom. Perhaps they all survive. Perhaps they
all fall. The use of euphoria means the action isn’t scripted – it’s
simulated – so you’ll never be able to predict exactly what will
happen, no matter how many times you’ve experienced a certain scenario.

With
a new edition of E3 starting tomorrow, LucasArts has send me their
official games lineup for E3 2006 Press Release. This press release also reveals new
information on their new Indiana Jones video game for 2007!

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 8, 2006 –
Hot off of its most successful year in company history, LucasArts today
officially revealed its lineup of titles on display at this year’s
Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 10-12 in Los Angeles, CA. From
next-generation innovation in Indiana Jones 2007 [working title] to
highly anticipated adventures in a galaxy far, far away (LEGO Star Wars
II: The Original Trilogy and Star Wars® Empire at War™: Forces of
Corruption™) and completely new intellectual properties such as
Thrillville™ and Traxion™, LucasArts has something for everyone at E3
2006. The company will also showcase cutting-edge next-generation
technology, including euphoria from NaturalMotion Ltd. and Digital
Molecular Matter (DMM) from Pixelux Entertainment Inc.

“Last year was
far and away the greatest of LucasArts’ nearly 25 years as a company,”
said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. “At E3
2006, we look to show the industry that 2005 was just a start – we’re
only growing from there. With excellent games anchored by story and
character, plus new intellectual properties and never-before-seen
next-generation technology that will blow you away, this company’s
future has never looked brighter.”

Indiana Jones® 2007 (working
title)
Indiana Jones returns in 2007 for his most incredible interactive
expedition ever. Set in 1939, this epic, original story – written for
the first time under the direction of George Lucas – puts you in the
fedora of the legendary adventure hero as he unravels the clues found
in ancient artifacts spanning the globe. From San Francisco’s Chinatown
to the world’s most sacred ground, Indy must use his fists, whip and
trusty revolver to fight through ruthless opposition and piece together
a mystery of biblical proportions. Indiana Jones 2007 is LucasArts’
first internally developed project for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360™
video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and it also
represents the first collaboration of talents and technology between
LucasArts and Industrial Light & Magic, two companies now finally
under one roof at the new Letterman Digital Arts Center in San
Francisco’s Presidio district.

Indiana Jones 2007 debuts the
revolutionary new euphoria technology from NaturalMotion, which
delivers never-before-seen lifelike action and awareness to every
character in real time – so you’ll never see the same thing twice. For
the first time ever, euphoria enables interactive characters to move,
act and even think like actual human beings, adapting their behavior on
the fly and resulting in a different payoff every single time. This
next-gen technology imbues Indy and his opponents with unparalleled
environmental awareness and survival instincts. They’ll stumble, then
attempt to maintain their balance; brace themselves for falls, then get
back up; and reach for nearby ledges when falling. Each action results
in an authentic, varied performance every time.

Complementing euphoria will be
Pixelux Entertainment’s Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) technology,
which brings a level of realism to next-gen games never seen before by
making completely interactive environments that react as they would in
real life. From crumbling walls to shattering glass and even swaying
organic plant life, in-game objects have material properties that
behave realistically all in real time.

Indiana Jones 2007 also features
completely interactive Hot Set™ environments, where every setting is
open-ended and completely destructible in a way that only
next-generation consoles can deliver. Use your wits and daring to make
each spring-loaded environment a weapon as you dispense of foes in
clever and unexpected ways. Also, embark upon thrilling chase sequences
that remain true to the spirit established in scenes such as Indy’s
pursuit of the motorcade in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the mine-cart
scene in The Temple of Doom, and the free-for-all aboard the tank in
The Last Crusade. Face Indy off against a devious longtime rival,
reunite him with old friends, and meet more of his most trusted allies
throughout the world.

Click here to read the full press release and to
find out about LucasArts' completely new games Thrillville and Traxion.

LucasArts has spread a separate Press Release with more information on the Pixelux Entertainment’s Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) technology that will be used in the upcoming Indiana Jones 2007 video game.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 8, 2006 – LucasArts announced today that it has partnered with Pixelux Entertainment Inc. to include revolutionary Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) technology into all internal titles currently in development for next-generation video game consoles. DMM is exclusive to LucasArts beginning with Indiana Jones® 2007 (working title) and continuing with the next Star Wars® experience. This breakthrough in material physics will bring an unprecedented level of realism to next-gen projects by making completely interactive environments that react as they would in real life. From crumbling walls to shattering glass and even swaying organic plant life, in-game objects have material properties that behave realistically all in real time.

If a structure exists – big or small, dense or thin, floppy or rigid – DMM causes it to react in the same way dictated by reality. For example, unlike what you’d see in current-gen games, wood doesn’t simply break apart along a predetermined seam every time – rather, it splinters into countless pieces from the exact point of impact, also taking into account the amount of sheer force exerted. The same rules apply to any substance imaginable: Rubber bends and snaps back into place. Glass shatters. Crystal fractures. Stone crumbles. Carbonite (yes, the very alloy that encased Han Solo) dents.

With DMM in action, a Jedi unleashes the Force like never before. His violent Force push hurtles a helpless stormtrooper through a stone column, blasting it apart. Moments later, the sudden lack of support causes the building to smash to the ground, piece by piece. Meanwhile, a virtual Jabba the Hutt presides over his court, as rolls of gelatinous fat bounce and jiggle thanks to a body composed of DMM.

“Pixelux has been a fantastic partner in our effort to bring true next-generation gameplay to these new consoles,” said Peter Hirschmann, vice president of product development at LucasArts. “Digital Molecular Matter enables us to deliver game worlds that feel truly dynamic and alive – we can pack in dramatically more gameplay per square foot than was ever possible with earlier hardware generations.”

“When it comes to unlocking the potential of DMM – a technology that many engineers believe is still 10 to 15 years away – it’s hard to beat opportunities like next-gen Indiana Jones and Star Wars,” said Vik Sohal, chief operating officer at Pixelux. “Partnering with LucasArts is the perfect way to introduce DMM to the gaming public.”

LucasArts will demonstrate DMM during a behind-closed-doors tech demo set in a galaxy far, far away on May 10-12 at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, CA.

IGN.com
is the first to publish an Indiana Jones 2007 preview
including in-game screenshots. And they look damn good! Here follow
some highlights:

But
first, a word on game basics. Or rather, the fact Lucasarts didn't
really offer any. At this point, they've engineered the technology to
make it run, and they've ironed out the story. But there's little in
terms of specifics. And speaking of story, it does in fact tie into the
upcoming movie. Developers said George Lucas gave them a chunk of the
script for use in the game. But in terms of how many missions it'll
have or exactly what kinds of puzzles and obstacles to expect,
developers just aren't saying yet. What they have said is that it will
include everything fans have come to expect, including plenty of
brawling, lethal traps, artifacts and moments of death-defying
coolness...

As such, developers have only
finished a small portion of the actual game. As absurd as it sounds,
though, the technology behind the game is what's truly exciting. And
it's so for a very simple reason: it just hasn't been used before now.
But after watching a 40-minute demonstration, it's abundantly clear it
has the potential to change the way you play games. All of this may
sound like obscene hype. It may be. But If Lucasarts winds up meeting
its goals and delivers exactly what they want when Indiana Jones ships,
then it's not hype; it's simple honesty...

Lucasarts
treated its guests to a live demonstration to prove how advanced
Euphoria really is. The scene took place in 1939, inside of San
Francisco's China Town. Indy appeared in the middle of the screen, with
three enemies approaching from a nearby ally. They cautiously walked up
and started throwing punches. Which, at first, wasn't too exciting at
all. It looked great, like most next-generation titles, but it didn't
seem innovative by any means.
Half an hour later, opinions had shifted in a major way. Throughout the
entire demo, enemies reacted differently to every attack. Every time
Indy grabbed someone and tossed him through a window or door, he'd
react differently. And that's because there isn't a single canned
animation in the entire game. Behavioral intelligence dictates every
gesture, punch, kick and grapple...

Developers
then commented that ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) worked on all the
game's lighting at the same rendering farm as Pirates of the Caribbean
2, Poseidon and other high-profile flicks. Impressive, to say the
least. Add this to the fact only 20% of the game is actually finished,
including special effects, and there's plenty reason to get excited...

By the end of the demo, Lucasarts
had everyone in the room convinced: it would deliver one of the first,
true next-generation experiences. And it wouldn't be just a massive
jump in visual prowess, but the logical next step in immersive
technologies. This stuff will help make games play better. And that
should be more important than cramming 90,000 characters on screen at
once.

These few parts are not all the
highlights of the Indiana Jones 2007 preview!
If you really wanted me to add all interesting parts, I could have just
posted the whole 3 page article here. The whole preview
is just that exciting to read! So be sure to check it out at IGN.com!

LucasArts has
released the Indy 2007 game trailer!

Wedensday May 10
2006, 4:57pm EST

LucasArts
has released the first teaser trailer for their Indiana Jones 2007
next-generation video game! It's a fun game trailer made in the same
style as those old 1930s' news flashes. Though the game trailer reveals
nothing about the story, except that it is set in 1939. The main
purpose of this fun trailer is to demonstrate the revolutionary
Euphoria technology in action!

When viewing the Indiana Jones 2007
game trailer and screenshots you may notice a "Lao Che Cocktails" neon
sign in the background. Does this mean villain Lao Che moved
territories, from Shanghai to San Francisco's Chinatown, since his
encounter with Dr. Jones in the Temple of Doom? It sure looks like that.

Click
here to view the Indiana Jones 2007 game trailer online at the
LucasArts site together with some extra game info and screenshots.

Fountain of
Youth fan game demo released

Friday May 26 2006,
4:59pm EST

The
much anticipated demo of Indiana Jones and the Fountain of Youth is
finally available to download! It's taken a group of talented Indiana
Jones fans over two years to release but it's now ready and should give
you a tiny impression of just what is to come in the future. Here
follows a word from the fan game developers:

The original
demo, which almost surfaced in 2005 - had three programmers, and all
was lost when the lead programmer disappeared without ever uploading
the game files for the team to continue working from. After this, a new
programmer was recruited - and the demo you will play today has been
entirely built from scratch by Jan Simon - a keen programmer who has
worked extremely hard on pulling our work together, using only the
compiled original version for reference and adding every single bit of
detail back in himself.

Don't let this fool you though -
more time means more ideas, new looks and better gameplay. The team
have been able to implement things like the fight engine which was only
really being conceived back in 2005. However, Jan has made it possible
and in this demo you will get a taster of some of the action sequences
in the game. Unlike the original demo, this version features all the
correct dialogue written superbly by Lorn Conner.

The demo itself
features an array of features that will be included in the full-game.
Bear in mind, this is just a demo & so a lot of what we hope to
include in the full game to really bring the atmosphere together - has
been left out. The demo features a separate storyline to the full-game
but includes some structure that you can expect from the full game -
including cut-scenes, inventory based puzzles, dialogue puzzles &
action sequences. There's also over 25 minutes of original music
especially composed for the demo, and over 15 unique interactive rooms
to explore - all in beautiful 320x200 hand-drawn artwork by Misja van
Laatum.

Did you know - we hope to release a
talkie version of the demo in the near future! With your help, we can
get Doug Lee on board as the voice of Indiana Jones! If you would like
to hear him as Indy again in a brand new adventure, take a look at the
donations page on our Fountain of Youth website.

It's time to finally see what we've
been hiding all this time. You will find all the information and
downloads you need on our demo page - which
also includes technical information as there are still a couple of
known bugs floating about in this version! (1.0).

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